Babri demolition sting an attempt to inject poison in peaceful poll atmosphere: BJP

New Delhi: Questioning the timing of a 'sting' operation on the Babri Masjid demolition, the BJP on Friday alleged that it was "sponsored", accusing Congress of using "pawns" to vitiate the atmosphere before elections and asked the Election Commission to stop its publication and telecast.

Reportedly, Cobrapost said that its undercover investigation proves the mosque razing was planned. It also claims that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliate of the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Shiv Sena trained their cadre for the demolition, which, it says, was an elaborate plan, rather than an act of mob frenzy.

Hindu mobs demolished the 16th century mosque in Ayodhya, claiming it was built on the birthplace of Hindu God Rama. The demolition triggered religious riots that killed some 2,000.

Cobrapost said it interviewed 23 key players of that time and arrived at the conclusion that the mosque razing was plotted by the VHP and Shiv Sena, BJP's oldest ally.

The site also claimed that then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao of the Congress and Kalyan Singh, running the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, were aware about the plot. A suicide squad of trained RSS workers was produced and cadre of the VHP, RSS and Shiv Sena were given training in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Cobrapost revealed, “The Shiv Sena planned to use dynamite if other methods to raze Babri failed.”

Writing to the Election Commission shortly before Cobrapost was to hold a press conference, BJP sought a bar on its contents being made public.

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said reports had appeared in papers today about a sting operation related to the sensitive Babri masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute.

Through this "sponsored sting operation", there is an attempt to inject poison in the peaceful and amicable election atmosphere in the country, he said.

"We had in the morning spoken to Election Commission and also written a letter that an NGO named Cobrapost in the name of a sting operation is planning to show a sponsored sting on the sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid issue....Its telecast and publication should be immediately barred," he added.

He said the party had asked the EC to take action "against whoever is behind such a mischievous conspiracy."

Accusing the Congress of propagating communalism, Naqvi said that the party has lost the battle on ground and was now trying to use pawns to spoil the atmosphere ahead of election.

When asked to comment about the content of the sting operation, Naqvi said its timing raises questions.

"The timing is more important than content and raises questions as the election is at its peak and the atmosphere is friendly and peaceful. The election is being contested on the issue of Congress' misgovernance. The people have rejected the secular versus communal plank on which Congress contests and real issues are being raised. Naturally those who contested on non-issues are upset," he said.